Galway’s Working – A Connacht Tribune jobs initiative

Date Published: 09-Feb-2012

 Did you know that there are over 380 jobs available across Galway city and county this week? And that this isn’t an exceptionally good week?

In fact, there have been about that number of vacancies in Galway throughout January. And because sectors of Galway’s jobs market are seasonal, this situation is likely to improve as spring turns into summer and the tourism and hospitality sectors start recruiting again.

Yet, there are times you would think there isn’t a job to be had anywhere in the country, especially the West.

At the Connacht Tribune Group we want to change that perception and let people know that there are jobs available across a wide range of business sectors, from highly technical roles to entry level positions requiring little experience. We want to help lift the gloom that is enveloping the country and highlight some of the opportunities that are available to the many thousands of people who want to get back to work, or to work for the first time.

‘Galway’s Working’ is a new initiative from the Connacht Tribune newspapers and Galway Bay FM which will publicise each week the number and variety of jobs available in Galway. Working with Employment Services (formerly FÁS), local recruitment companies, Galway County & City Enterprise Board and GTC, over the next four weeks we will carry reports on the jobs market, interview skills, starting your own business and profiles of companies currently recruiting.

There are certainly major economic challenges facing us in the next few years and with over 20,000 people ‘signing on’ in Galway, unemployment is higher than it has been in a generation. There are thousands who have been unemployed for a year or more and it is difficult to return to the workplace.

Equally there are many young people who have not had the opportunity to work at all in the last few years since leaving education.

Our recovery begins with small steps and every single job opportunity can help change lives for the better. If there were 200 new or replacement positions available in Galway each fortnight then that would be 5,000 jobs created in a year. That would make a huge positive impact on the people and the economy of Galway.

Starting this week, and throughout 2012, we will provide free classified jobs advertising to businesses wishing to recruit staff to work in the Galway area. These ads will appear each week in The Connacht Tribune and Galway City Tribune and a selection of them will be featured throughout the week on Galway Bay FM.

Over the coming weeks we’ll also include many articles aimed at helping people return to work or looking for a career for the first time. Recruitment specialists will provide us information on interview skills and CV preparation. Career consultants will give pointers on how you can assess your own aptitudes, skills and experience and set job goals accordingly.

Not everyone wants to be an employee; some people would rather work for themselves. In the next few weeks we’ll also carry pieces from Galway County & City Enterprise Board, Galway Technology Centre and others who can help those wanting to start out on their own.

We don’t have all the answers. Far from it; but there are lots of people in Galway who have some answers and many more who can provide lots of assistance in helping us identify and achieve our goals.

If we work together as a community, even in small ways, we can make a big difference.

Galway’s Working. Let’s all be part of it.